Unlike other underrepresented groups, not every artist enters the population of people with disabilities at a young age. So artists who become disabled later in life often must reboot their careers and find new ways to work, in effect re-emerging. Any anecdotal experience, resource materials, and/or assistive tools you can share on effective ways to transition and adapt to a new reality as a person in the arts with a
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VAPA: Visual and Performing Arts Framework
Accommodations for Student with Disabilities
Compiled by Jonn Paris-Salb 2016
Students with disabilities are not typically invited to participate in arts programs for general education students. The arts are as important to the school experience as is academics for some students. The important issue is that accommodations must be in place in order for some of the students to
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Individualized Education Programs sometimes require rather inflexible "outcomes" of learning. Those designing IEPs can struggle to explain arts outcomes in the terms and measures thought to be required. In some cases, educators remove arts education from IEPs altogether for these reasons. We need a way to share standards for arts outcomes in IEPs and stress that disability arts is an expansive and transformative field
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Many cities are home to Arts and Cultural Alliances which are an ideal opportunity for students with disabilities to get exposure to careers in arts administration. If these Cultural Alliances whose membership is often the leaders of cultural attractions in cities were to partner with College and University Disability Support Services, it would offer amazing opportunities for both Internships and Mentorships for higher
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Develop an application for job seekers to input what they are able to do, tasks which require accommodation to perform and what their limitations are. The application would then synthesize this data and produce a possible match for employment/jobs, which could then be matched against job posts that are a good fit for the prospective employee.

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Open Circle Theatre creates a professional theatre that integrates artists and arts administrators with and without disabilities. We then seek recognition and participation in the DC theatre scene so that artists with disabilities get seen and then cast and hired by other theatres. We truly believe that showing artists with disabilities in roles that others had not considered them for in the past not only gets these
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There are many jobs in announcing in the media, in business communications and in the entertainment fields. The normal route is to go to drama school and received full training as a stage actor. That is not necessary for performing as an off-screen announcer, for animated voices in videogames, radio, television, documentaries and business presentations. This kind of employment is ideal for people with disabilities, who
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Much of the discourse in the contemporary arts world currently revolves around intersectionality and race and gender/sexuality among them. With disability as a given, what are some institutions/programs/resources already out there that are navigating the multiple/intersectional identities with disability as one of them? What are some ways to engage intersectionality in future projects/programs?
Here are a couple of examples
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The Apothetae and Lark Playwriting Fellowship provides a two-year cycle of support to a Disabled writer, for the generation and development of a new play to essay and challenge perceptions of the "Disabled Experience." The fellowship includes outreach and scouting toward the commissioning and development of the new play, and an intensive two-year process of new play development activities for the Fellow through The Lark’s
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Are there existing resources or programs that folks know that realize this great suggestion?
@lisasniderman in the 2016 Careers in the Arts Dialogue suggested to "Consider creating a Grants Mentor Program to help interested disabled artists determine specific artistic goals, resource needs, planned or proposed projects
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For many years, I taught an up cycling class to folks with disabilities - we worked on furniture, household items, did some sewing, artwork - lots of cool stuff - That We Sold!!!!!!
With the right tools, space etc., I believe this could be a lucrative and creative endeavor for people with disabilities. It would encompass job skills, paid employment, art education and training - An Arts Center/Store
Ideally it would
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In addition, please share your ideas and comments for the following: resources that assist people with disabilities in overcoming barriers and challenges and provide career preparation and opportunities in the arts field, effective tools or resources for networking and job searching, and resources for educators to supplement their existing curricula in arts education programs to include disability arts representation and narratives.

Within your particular artistic discipline, please share your ideas for what resources or programs assist in addressing discipline-specific barriers or challenges, and what progress has been made in regards to artists, and/or cultural workers with disabilities. Are there resources in your specific artistic community that address the current discourse around disability? What organizations, opportunities, venues/spaces, and individuals working on disability issues within your specific artistic field should we know about? Please share resources that offer strategies for arts organizations and disability organizations to more effectively work together to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities in the arts.

Please share your ideas for resources or strategies for the following:

Guidance in considering and addressing disability/identity disclosure while working in the arts.

Assistance for employers, employees, and arts venue staff in a workspace/art space with access and inclusion.

Support or mentorship for disabled artists and cultural workers from additionally marginalized communities including communities of color, those for whom English is a second language, and those who are LGBTQ trans*.

Dialogue 1

What are some of the strategies used by people with disabilities seeking employment or self-employment in the arts? What are the barriers and challenges, and what ideas do you have for how the arts field can help provide career preparation and opportunity? These ideas can include your experiences with accommodations and accessibility, as well as how people with disabilities can work in the arts and have access to healthcare and other benefits.

When you are ready to share your ideas click the Submit New Idea Button on the right to join the conversation!

What ideas do you have for the arts field (arts organizations, arts service organizations, arts agencies, and arts funders) and the arts education field (schools, community arts education, conservatories, and universities) to ensure full inclusion for youth and adults seeking training in the arts field?

When you are ready to share your ideas click the Submit New Idea Button on the right to join the conversation!

What ideas do you have concerning disability disclosure while working in the arts? Has it helped or hindered your work? How can representation of disability and authenticity affect the employment outcomes for people with disabilities in the arts?

When you are ready to share your ideas click the Submit New Idea Button on the right to join the conversation!

What ideas do you have within your particular art form or your particular disability community? For example, what new opportunities have emerged for Deaf theater artists, for physically-integrated dance, or for filmmakers with disabilities, and how did they come about? What ideas do you have for how arts and disability organizations can work better together to increase opportunities?

When you are ready to share your ideas click the Submit New Idea Button on the right to join the conversation!